Anime Expo
2025, the largest anime event in North America, has begun to reveal its plans
for this new edition, which will be held from July 4 to 7 in Los Angeles. Among
the most notable announcements are world premieres, special panels with
renowned creators, and an explosive music festival that promises to be
unforgettable.
Two World
Premieres to Whet Your Mouth
During the
event, the world premiere of the anime "The Summer Hikaru Died"
(Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu), an adaptation of the Mokumokuren manga, will take
place. The author will be present alongside voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi.
The
spin-off "GINTAMA - Mr. Ginpachi's Zany Class" (3-Nen Z - Gumi
Ginpachi-Sensei) will also be screened for the first time on July 5. In
addition, an exclusive scene from the KILLTUBE anime will be shown with guest
director Kazuki Kuribayashi.
Internationally
Renowned Guests
Confirmed
artists and professionals include:
Shinobu
Seguchi, creator of the Prisoner Riku manga
Directors
Gorō Taniguchi, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, and Alex Xu, at the “Community-Driven Anime
Production” panel
Doujin
artist Asanagi
Director
Hiroaki Akagi and producer Go Inagaki, representing TV Asahi
Director
Masaki Watanabe and producer Genki Ito at the Netflix panel
Voice
actors Makoto Furukawa, Daiki Yamashita, Sora Amamiya, and Gen Sato
Producer
George Wada at the “VIZ Presents: Roosters, Samurai, and Mayhem!” panel
Manga
artist Ogeretsu Tanaka
The
Dandelion Animation Studio team: CEO Kazuhiro Nishikawa and manga editor Rei
Hebiguchi
Panels
dedicated to major franchises and creators
The
convention will also host Karin Isobe, Yuki Nakashima, Fumiya Imai, and Kent
Itō for a special event dedicated to Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage. Joining the
roster are Manabu Ohtsuka and Hiroya Hasegawa of MAPPA, ODDTAXI director Baku
Kinoshita, and legendary Higurashi and Umineko creator Ryukishi07.
A music
festival that will make history
The event
will host the “J-POP SOUND CAPSULE @AX2025 Anisong World Matsuri Returns” show,
featuring the following:
TOGENASHI
TOGEARI, the band from Girls Band Cry, both in fiction and real life
FLOW (Code
Geass, Naruto)
GRANRODEO
(Kuroko no Basket, Bungo Stray Dogs)
Sakurazaka46
Hiroshi
Kitadani of JAM Project, known for his work on One Piece
ASTERISM,
the metal band responsible for the opening of “Appraiser,” will be the opening
act
Final
Fantasy, Gundam, and much more
The
director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV and producer of Final Fantasy XVI,
Naoki Yoshida (also known as Yoshi-P), will also participate, along with voice
actor Kazuki Ura, NextNinja CEO Masayuki “Yama-P” Yamagishi, and renowned manga
artist Peach-Pit.
The Mobile
Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX creative team will also be making an appearance,
including director Kazuya Tsurumaki, series composer Yōji Enokido, voice
actress Tomoyo Kurosawa, and producer Naohiro Ogata of Bandai Namco Filmworks.
